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Copper
Copper , whose scientific symbol is Cu, is one of the nutrients that humans need in small quantities for maintaining health, and it is considered an essential food . Which the body cannot manufacture or obtain except by consuming it from the diet, and it is an important mineral for the human body, as it helps the formation of red blood cells, some enzymes, connective tissues, and bones, in addition to maintaining the health of blood vessels and nerves, And the immune system , as it contributes to iron absorption, and it may have a role in the growth and development of fetuses in the womb of mothers. [1] [2] Copper is also found in some nutritional supplements, such as: multivitamin , or mineral supplements, but it should be noted that the need to consume its supplements is minimal. [3]
To read more about the mineral copper and its benefits to the body, please refer to the article on the benefits of copper .
Symptoms of copper deficiency
The following points explain the symptoms associated with copper deficiency: [4]
- General fatigue and weakness: as decreased copper absorption may be associated with iron deficiency anemia, and this leads to a limitation of the body's ability to transport enough oxygen to different tissues, thus feeling very tired and weak. Phosphate, known for short as ATP, is the main source of energy in the body, so a deficiency of copper may affect energy levels in the body and cause fatigue.
- Vision loss: as copper is involved in many enzymes that help maintain the nervous system and ensure its proper functioning, including maintaining the health of eyesight , so copper deficiency may lead to the emergence of problems in the nervous system such as vision loss, and it should be noted that most people Those who have undergone gastrointestinal surgeries, such as gastric bypass surgery, reduce copper absorption.
- Difficulties in walking: as copper contributes to the maintenance of the health of the spinal cord and the nervous system with the help of some enzymes , signals are transmitted between the brain and the organs of the body, which are important in regulating the movement of walking, and therefore copper deficiency may reduce this effect, which may cause a loss of coordination and lack of Gait stability.
- Paleness of the skin: as the color of the skin is determined by the enzymes responsible for the production of melanin pigment , as this pigment decreases in people with light skin compared to people with dark skin, and it has been found that copper helps to produce the pigment melanin, and therefore its deficiency may cause pallor. But more studies are still needed on this relationship.
- Hair color changes to gray before aging: Hair color is related to the pigment melanin mentioned above, and therefore the lack of copper levels may affect the formation of this pigment, which may cause gray hair to appear prematurely, and there are some studies that have been conducted on this The relationship, as mentioned in a study published in the journal Biological Trace Element Research in 2012, conducted on a group of people under the age of 20 years, [5] but more human studies are still needed on this. [4]
- High incidence of diseases: as copper has an important role in maintaining the health of the immune system, and therefore the lack of copper levels may reduce the formation of immune cells and white blood cells. White blood in the body is abundant, which are known as neutrophils. [4] [6]
- Weakness and osteoporosis: It is characterized by thinning of the bones so that they become more weak, and it has been observed that copper deficiency is more common with age, according to a statistical analysis published in the Journal of Biological Trace Element Research in 2014, of 8 studies conducted on 2,100 people with osteoporosis That people with osteoporosis had low copper levels compared to healthy people, [7] copper aids in bone formation and promotes osteoblasts; They are the cells that help remodel and strengthen bone tissue. [4]
- Memory and learning disorders: Copper is one of the elements that plays an important role in brain function and helps its development. As it helps enzymes to provide energy to it, and in its defense mechanisms, in addition to transmitting signals from the brain to parts of the body, and therefore copper deficiency may lead to learning difficulty and memory problems, and it may also lead to the emergence of some mental illnesses, such as; Alzheimer's , and according to a preliminary study published in Metallomics in 2017, it was observed that people who had Alzheimer's disease had 52.8-70.2% lower levels of copper in the brain compared to people without the disease, but more studies are still needed. Around it. [8] [4]
- Increased sensitivity to low temperatures: as copper contributes to the maintenance of thyroid gland functions that contribute to regulating metabolism and body temperature, and thus a decrease in the level of thyroid hormone may increase the feeling of cold, and many studies have shown the extent to which levels of thyroid hormones are related to levels Copper. [4]
- A small study published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology in 2016 reported on 84 children whose levels of both copper and selenium were measured, with an indication that they had congenital hypothyroidism ; It is a disease that appears in infants and affects the thyroid gland and is associated with stopping the growth of their brain and body, and it was observed in the study that the level of copper is associated with the level of thyroid hormones significantly, especially in the early stages of childbirth, and children who suffer from severe hypothyroidism are at risk of developing a risk Copper deficiency if they are not fed properly. [9]
Causes of copper deficiency
Although copper deficiency is rare due to its abundance in the diet, it is becoming more common and widespread at the present time, and it may happen for one of the following reasons: [10] [11] [12]
- Genetic causes of copper deficiency: such as; Menkes disease That affects copper levels and reduces its absorption as a result of a mutation in one of the genes on the X chromosome, and this syndrome occurs in one male infant for every 100,000 to 250,000 infants, and this deficiency may result in anemia, connective tissue problems, muscle weakness, and diseases of the Nervous system, low white blood cell count.
- Causes acquired copper deficiency: where the metabolic rate of natural levels is in this case, but the shortage is caused by certain diseases specific cases, early screening, preferably in such cases , to reduce the risk of shortages, and these diseases and conditions are described as follows:
- Low birth weight; It is associated with low copper stores with nutritional deficiencies, either with total intravenous feeding or un fortified milk consumption.
- Malnutrition and acute lack of protein levels in childhood, especially premature infants who did not consume nutritional supplements, causing bone disorders and fractures.
- Continuous diarrhea in infants that is caused by a diet limited to consuming milk only.
- Malabsorption is severe, such as that occurs with cystic fibrosis.
- Excessive consumption of zinc ; That occurs when consuming zinc supplements over long periods of time, which may cause a decrease in copper stores. [13]
- Nervous system diseases and disorders, such as: myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and optic neuropathy.
- Perform stomach and digestive system surgery. [4] [10]
- Wheat allergy disease (Celiac disease). [4]
- Other conditions: such as folate deficiency , vitamin B12 deficiency, and anemia of various kinds, such as: microcytic anemia, normalocytic anemia, macrocytic anemia, and people with blood diseases , Such as: thrombocytopenia, and myelodysplastic syndrome; It is an abnormal growth of blood cells, lymphoma, as well as in the event of infection, and upon the toxic effect of some drugs, according to what was mentioned in a preliminary study published in the Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives in 2017. [14]
Sources of copper
Copper can be found in a wide range of foods, but it should be noted that vegetables and fruits in general are low in their copper content, but it is found in whole grains, and it is added to breakfast cereals and other fortified foods. The most prominent food sources of copper are mentioned: [15] [ 16]
- Yeast.
- Black pepper.
- Dried fruit.
- Whole wheat bread.
- Meat and its viscera, such as: liver and kidneys.
- Dark leafy vegetables.
- sweet potato; 100 grams contain 0.3 mg, or 31% of the daily amount of copper.
- Cocoa; Where 100 grams of dark chocolate, in which cocoa makes up 70-85%, contains 196% of the daily amount of copper, or the equivalent of 1.8 mg.
- Oysters; 100 grams of it contain 4.4 milligrams of copper, which is 493% of the daily amount.
- Salmon; As 100 grams of it contains 0.3 milligrams of copper, or 36% of the daily amount.
- Beans; A cup of red kidney beans contains 52% of the daily amount of copper.
- Nuts such as cashews Of which 100 grams contains 247% of the daily amount of copper, or the equivalent of 2.2 mg, and Brazil nuts; Of which 28 grams comprise 55% of the daily amount of copper, and pistachios ; 28 grams of it contains 41% of the daily amount of copper.
- Avocado; As one pill contains 0.4 milligrams, or 42% of the daily amount of copper.
- Sesame seeds; 100 grams of it contains 2.5 milligrams of copper, or 274% of its daily amount.
- Chickpeas; One cup of it contains 0.6 mg, or 64% of the daily amount of copper.
To read more about the sources of copper, refer to the article Where is the element copper .
Daily requirement of copper
Although the body’s need for copper is low, it varies according to several factors, including: gender and age. The following table shows the recommended amount of copper depending on the age group: [17]
| Age group | Recommended amount of copper (μg / day) |
|---|---|
| 0-12 months | 200 |
| 1- 3 years | 340 |
| 4- 8 years | 440 |
| 9-13 years old | 700 |
| 14-18 years old | 890 |
| Over 19 years old | 900 |
| Lactating women and pregnant women between 14-18 years old | 1000 |
| Lactating women and pregnant women over 19 years old | 1300 |
References
- ↑ Emily Wax (2-2-2019), "Copper in diet" , www.medlineplus.gov , Retrieved 22-12-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Helen West (26-10-2018), "8 Foods That Are High in Copper" , www.healthline.com , Retrieved 22-12-2019. Edited.
- ↑ "Copper" , www.pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.go , 14-12-2019, Retrieved 22-12-2019. Edited.
- ^ A b c w c h x d Ryan Raman (11-15-2018), “9 Signs and Symptoms of Copper Deficiency” , www.healthline.com , Retrieved 23-12-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Farahnaz Naieni, Bahareh Ebrahim, Hamid Vakilian And Others (4-2012), “Serum Iron, Zinc, and Copper Concentration in Premature Graying of Hair” , Biological Trace Element Research , Issue 1, Folder 146, Page 30--34. Edited.
- ↑ Susan Percival (1-3-1995), “Neutropenia Caused by Copper Deficiency: Possible Mechanisms of Action” , Nutrition Reviews , Issue 3, Folder 53, Page 59-66. Edited.
- ↑ Jianmao Zheng, Xueli Mao, Junqi Ling And Others (2014), “Low Serum Levels of Zinc, Copper, and Iron as Risk Factors for Osteoporosis: a Meta-analysis” , Biological Trace Element Research , Issue 1, Folder 160, Page 15-23. Edited.
- ↑ Jingshu Xu, Stephanie Church, Stefano Patassini, and other (16-8-2017), "Evidence for widespread, severe brain copper deficiency in Alzheimer's dementia †" , Metallomics , Issue 8, Folder 9, Page 1106-1119. Edited.
- ↑ Sarah Blasig, Peter Kühnen, Oliver Blankenstein And Others (9-2016), "Positive correlation of thyroid hormones and serum copper in children with congenital hypothyroidism" , Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology , Folder 37, Page 90-95. Edited.
- ^ A b , Larry E for Johnson (10-2018), " of Copper" , Www.msdmanuals.com , Retrieved 22-12-2019. Edited.
- ↑ "Total Copper (Blood)" , www.urmc.rochester.edu , Retrieved 22-12-2019. Edited.
- ↑ "Copper Deficiency" , www.sciencedirect.com , 2014, Retrieved 14-1-2020. Edited.
- ↑ Markus MacGill (20-6-2015), "Doctors cause copper deficiency by 'misdiagnosing a need for zinc'" , www.medicalnewstoday.com , Retrieved 25-12-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Shoaib Wazir, Ibrahim Ghobrial (30-6-2017), “Copper deficiency, a new triad: anemia, leucopenia, and myeloneuropathy” , Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives , Issue 4, Folder 7, Page 265--268. Edited.
- ↑ Megan Ware (23-10-2017), "Health benefits and risks of copper" , www.medicalnewstoday.com , Retrieved 25-12-2019. Edited.
- ↑ Daisy Whitbread (10-11-2019), "Top 10 Foods Highest in Copper" , www.myfooddata.com , Retrieved 12-25-2019. Edited.
- ↑ "Copper" , www.ods.od.nih.gov , 19-7-2019 , Retrieved 25-12-2019. Edited.
